Cutting machine



I C. BUCKMINSTER` CUTTING MACHINE, Fx LED MAR. 29 l 920.'

Jan. 2, 1923. 1,440,5s1

' v'lll/Ill 1 Mwm Axium muil;

Vso

Patented dan. 2, i923.

stares `rra BUCKD/IINSTEB, OF EEVEELY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGOR T0 NITEDSHOE OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, .A CORPORATION OF NE BCRA C.

ACHINERY GORFRATN, JERSEY.

Letl

CUTTNG MACHINE.

Application 'filed March 29, .1.920. Serial No. 369,558.

To c?? whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that l, linx C. BUoitr/iifxsrnn, ortis/.en ot the UnitedStates, residing at lj/f', in the county of. Essex and State of ssachusetts. have invented certain lmthe tollowing description, in connection `with the accompany g drawings, is a specification, like' reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several iigares.

rlhis invention relates to cutting machines and more particularly to machines for dieing ont blanks, such as shoe parts, from leather or other material utilized in the manufacture of shoes.

it is an object of the invention. to provide a satisfactory machine for cutting blanks from sheet material which will be especially simple in construction, and economical as well as convenient and rapid in operation.

In one aspect the invention comprisesa die for cutting blanks from material on a support and means for oscillating the die so that it travels With the Work during the cutting operation and returns to initial position preliminary to a second cutting operation.

In another aspect the invention comprises a die which is reciprocated to cause it to penetrate thesheet material to cut blanks 'therefrom and is at the same time oscillated to feed the Work, the construction and arrangement being such that the blanks are cut during the feeding movement of the Work. y y

It has long been the custom. in vcutting blanks from sheet material, in attempting to reduce the Waste to a minimum, to cut the blanks from the sheet in rows wherein the blanks of adjacent rows occupy what majr be termed a staggered arrangement relatively to each other. Thus in positioning the sheet material for the iirst row of blanks the gage positions theleading end of the sheet very close to the corresponding edge ofthe die and for the second row of blanks the leading edge of the sheet is positioned at a considerably greatervdistance from the corresponding edge of thedie. Preferably, tivo gages are provided which are alternately projected into 4operative position with respect to proveniente in Cutting Machines, of which the die at the beginning of cutting operations along different rovvs of blanks,

in the illustrative construction, thesegages are mounted to move with the die and are automatically projected into voperative position when the machine` comes to rest so that sheet material` may be positioned for vanother series of cutting operations.

ln one aspect the invention comprises a die Which cuts/blanks from sheet material and moves Wit-h the sheet material as the j latter is fed during the cutting operations, and a gage for positioning the Work preliminary to cutting operations controlled by the movements of the die so as to be projected intok and Withdrawn from operative position With respect to the sheet material yto be cut. y j

in another aspect the invention comprises a die constructed and arranged to cut blanks from sheet material and to feed the sheet material into cutting position, and a plurality of gages mounted to move With the die and to be projected automatically one at a time into position to gage the Work preliminary to a series of cutting operations.

in still another aspect the inventioncomprises a combination in which `a Vdie is reciprocated toward and from a. Work support to cut blanks from sheet material on the support and oscillated to feed the sheet material which is initially positioned by means of gages mountedto move With the die and arranged to be projected alternately into operative position by means automatically controlled during the swinging movement of the die. Y

In the illustrative machine the dieA which is reciprocated to cut blanks from the sheet material is also oscillated to feed the sheet material in co-operation With a cylinder having a curved surface Which co-operates with the die in blank cutting operations and which is so mounted as to move With the die during feeding i operations. Preferably, `there is also provided additional means for rotating thecylinder during the dieing out operation and in the preferred illustrative construction this additional means drives the cylinder yieldingly through a friction mem.-v

combinations of elements Will be described in the detailed specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. ll is a view in side elevation and partly in section of the illustrative embodiment of the invention; y Fig. 2`i`s a perspective partly in section showing the Work supporting and feeding means;

Fig. 3 is a detail ot the gage setting mechanism; and

Fig. 4 is a section along the line else-Ll 0In F ig. 3.

In the illustrative machine there is pro vided a Work support ycomprising a table (5 having rollers 8 mounted on its Work supporting surface and serving to lessen the friction vbetWeenthe Work l() and the table as it passes over the table in the feeding direction. (lo-operating with the table as a Work support is acylinder l2 which may be ofwvood or of metal covered With rubber composition, since it is designed to take the thrust of the cutting edge of the cutter during co-operation with the cutting means throughout cutting operations. ln order.' that the cylinder may cofop rate with the cutting' means it is mounted to project through an opening in thev table 6 and means is provided tor adjusting the cylinder in a direction toward and from the cutting means, the said construction comprising, in the illustrative machine, bearings 14 tor the y shaft of the cylinder mounted in guides 16 in the traine of the machine and adjustable through screw members 1S, The cylinder 12 serves not only as a cutting bed during the cutting operations on the sheet material but also as part of the feeding means as will be hereinafter set yforth.

'In the'. illustrative construction the blank cutting means is shown to comprise a die 20 mounted by means of a collar 22 upon the lovver end of a plunger 24 which 'is' recipro cable within a casing or housing 26 pivoted at 27 upon the frame ot' the machine. Means is provided for reciprocating the plunger 2li, that shown comprising a toggle mechanism of Which one link 30 is pivoted to the casing at 28 and the other link 32 pivotally connected at 34 to the upper end of the plunger 24. It will be clear that upon making and breaking the toggle constituted by the links 30 and 32, plunger Qtvill be recprocated to operate the die'20 to cut the sheet material, andsuch making and breaking- 'ot the toggle is accomplished through the'rod 36 pivotally attached to adjacentends ofthe toggle links 30 and 32 and at its.

" other end 'to an arm 38v of a bell crank lever,

the` other arm 4-0 otwvhich carries ya roll 4:2. tor movement along the. cam groove a4 in the cam member 4G mounted on the counter 4:8. lllegtns is provided also tork movnemesi ing the die along with the Work so that the cutting takes place during the movement of the Work in the feeding direction. ln the preferred construction the die assists in feeding the Work, the arrangement being such that as the die is oscillated about the center ot' the pivot`28 it copperates with the cylinder l2 in 'feeding the Work 'forwardl),Y substantially the Width oit' a single blank. At. the end of this Yforward feeding move4 ment the die is raised through the breaking ot' the toggle mechanism 30i 32 and then oscillated back to its starting` point preliminary to another cutting and feeding operaH tion. lt should be noted that t iis machine requires less power, than prior construe` tions, to operate it since the cutting of each blank is doneproressively along succes sively adjacent cutting portions ot the die. The means tor oscillating the die comprise a leverl pivotedat. 52 on the braeke pro-v jecting from the trame ot the machine and carrying at its upper end a roll which moves along the cam groove in the cam member 46, intending between the lever 50 and-the housing or casing is a link pivoted at 58 to the casing and at 60 to said lever, the latter pivot point being adjustable in a slot 62- in the lever so that the throw ot the casing may be regulated in accordance with the size of the die 20, it being clear that. the smaller the die the less will bethe extent ot' the oscillatory movement communicated to the die throughconnections trom the lever 50. As before stated the length of the feeding movement ot the die through the oscil lation ofthe casing 26 is substantially equal to the Width otablank7 or in other Words, to the Width of the diebeing used. Vith care the feeding step oi" the die can be so adjusted that there is lett between the blanks the very minimum ot waste or scrap material.

As heretofore stated the cylinder l2 co operates with the die in feeding' the iii/orig, it being clear that pressure ot the die upon the material in cutting theretln'ough anu its movement in the dii c ion oiP4 feed causes or tends to cause rotation o t the cylinder in the same direction. To assist in this movement ot the cylinder there is provided a friction Wheel (ist having' a. itriction surface 66 arranged to engage lrictionally with one end portion G8 of the cylinder, at a `considerable distance from the et the cylinder. to drive the cylinder yieldingly in the desired directionu lt Will be understood that other means than that shoivn may be utilized 'tor driving the cylinder yieldingly, so that it may co-operate properly with the to feed the Wort; its shown,k the friction Wheel (SeL is mounted at the lower end ot a sha'ttr() at the upper end oie which is another friction Wheel 72 engaged at. its periphery to be t'ric-` tionallydriven from onel 'tace oit ene Wheel or disk 7e on the. main shaft oi' the Oli bit-h obvi- 5 roiv on olz'inlts iv ously vvill begin at a dit ent d ance troni the e e ci the sheet than the n ecciliigf ron'. inasmuch the die 'moves along; vv i the ivorlr during cu ing` operations and is positioned at one ein 2me oi its movement vfhen the machine is brought to rest after series ot operations, the may most conil A as to position the ivorlr preliminary to outting' operations alonga succeeding ron' ot blanks. Y

is illustrated, the @au 0 and "ZS are mounted on the collar 22 which carries the die 20 b): means which provides Yfor projectingthe gages alternately into operative po sition. said means :omprising` a lu'aclret 80 mounted acjustably on the collar and providingl support ttor a lever 82 which is pivoted at 841 on the bracket.

A At' one end ot the lever 82 is the gage 76 to which it is connected by a pin and slot connection as indicated at 8P., Fig. 1, ot the drawings, the gage being guided 'for slidino' movement vertically in the bracket 80. Gage T8 is pivoted to the bracket 80 at 90 and has pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends a link 92, the other end et which is il: oted at 9-1 to an end oi' the lever 82. 1t will be clear from inspection of the drawing that the 76 and T8 may be alten mately projected and retracted upon rocking the lever 92 and that the lever may be so positioned as to hold both of the gages in inoperative position. From an ins vection ot Fig. 1 it Yivill be clear z-so that the gage 7G will position the leading` end ot the sheet very close to the forward cutting' edge off the die and that the gage i8 will position the same sheet with the leading end ther-sot a considerably greater distance trom the same orvvard cutting; edge oi the die so that the blanks in this second rov.

will be individually staggered with relation to the blanks in the preceding roiv.

Preferably each gage .is moved to operative position by automaticalljT operating means vvnich also removes the gage in time to permit unobstructed 'feeding oi the Work. 1n the illustrative construction this autotic means is controlled by the swinging movement of the die so that as the die comes to restl at the end of a series ot'. cutting` operations the proper gage Will be projected into operative position for positioning the rou or bla-.l".' andthe other .tor

sheet preliminary to the cutting of blanks from a succeeding portion olf the sheet. its shownr the automatic means for positioning the gages comprises a lever 9o pivoted at 98 to a bracket extending); laterally from one side of the casing); .26, the said lever having` forked ends 1which provide cam surfaces arlvranged to engage relatively'stationarymembers positioned in the path of 'movement of the lever, the arrangement hemp' such that the lever 1s operated upon contact with the relatively stationary members to project one or the other of said gag-res or to move them bothy to'inoperativeposition. As shown the lever 96 is connected to lever 82 by a link 99. 1n the illustrative machine, the member 100 cooperates with the lever 96 to move the latter in such manner as to position the gages bothv in inoperative position While the corresponding member 102 is adjustable on the tra-me of the machine and arranged to engage the otherI end ot the lever 96 to operate the lever so as to project one or the other of said gages -into operative position. As shown the members 100, 102 are in the :torm of pins Which project into the path oi? the forked ends ot the lever 96 and by contact With the cam surfaces ot these forked' ends shift the lever -iorvthe purpose described.

ln Figure 3 of the drawings there is illus trated one means for adjusting the member 102 automatically and in accordance with the requirements of the Work, the said means comprising a bar 104i Which carries at its lovver end the pin member 102 and at its upper end is provided with means .tor connecting it with a rack and pinionmechanism by which the bar is reciprocated at the proper intervals. Mounted in a guidevvay 106 .in the frame of the machine is a rack bar 108 which is constantly in mesh with the pinion or gear wheel 110, the latter carry 'ng a pawl 112 adapted to engage alternately With tivo teeth 114e on ar rotatable member 116 mounted loosely on the pivot pin 117 ot' the gear 110. -Extending from one tace ot the rotatable member 116 is a pin 11S which is receivable in a slot 120 in the upper end oit Ithe bar 1041*. As shown the pivot pin 117 is carried by a slide 122 mounted in a guideivay in the frame, and held rictionally `against too 'free movement by means of a' 140 With a treadle (not shown). ln Figure 8 the parts are shown with the machine at rest and the pin member 102 in position to lift the adjacent end ofthe lever 96 the member moves toward and upon the said pin member so that when the machine comes to rest t-he ga e 78 will be projected into oierative position. and the gage T6 moved further away from operative position.V Now when the operator steps on the treadle to start the machine the rack bar 108 w'll l' moved downwardly, thus rotating the wheel 110 and carrying with it the pawl 112 around into position to engage the other tooth 114, continued movement of the rack bar carrying its lower end into engagement with a projection on the slide 122 and thus moving` the slide downwardly unt-il the pin member 102 reaches the position a, this taking place, however, after the machine has started in operation and after the lever 96 has moved away from engagement with. the pin 102. rlhe purpose for thus moving the pin member 102 to the position e which is what may be called the neutral. position of the pin member 102 will be clear when it is remembered that the lever 96 is moved to neutral position on the first swing' of the casing 26 toward the left in Figure 1, this swing of the casing bringing the forked lever 96 into contact with the pin member 100, thus moving the lever to an intermediate position in which both gages are retracted so that there is no interference with the feeding of the work. Hence. the arrangement is such that when the casing swings back to the position shown in Fig. 1 preliminary to the cutting out of the blank second from the edge of the sheet, the pin member 102 will be in position a and thus will not effect any movement of the lever 96. Hence the lever 96 will oscillate with the casing and rome into contact with the pin members 100 and 102 at eac-h end of its oscillation but will not be operated by the said pin members. Thilo the last blank in the row is being out the operator removes his foot from the treadle which is promptly raised by a spring (not shown) whereupon the rack bar 108 moves upwardly, thus carrying the gear wheel 110 and with it the rotatable member 116 around to the right in Fig. 3 by which motion the pin 118 is transferred from position directly over the pivot pin 117 to a position directly under said pivot pin and in this movement of the pin 118 the bar 104 is projected downwardly carrying the pin member 102 to the position c. Continued upward movement of the rack bar 108 finally carries it int-o Contact with the projection 144 on the slide 122 whereby the slide is lifted carrying with it the bar 104 so that pin member 102 is moved from position. o to position ZJ. Thus when the lever member 96 is moved with the casing 26 to its position of rest at the extreme nazional right in Fig. 1, it will engage with its forked end the pin member 102 in position b and will be tipped so as to project `the gage 76 into operative position. After the work has been positioned against this the `operator again steps on the treadle to start the machine and in doing so moves the rack bar 108 downwardly its full distance and by engagement with the projection 142 on the slide 122 the said slide, together with the rack bar 104, are carried downwardly whereby the pin member 102 is moved to position c, this occurring after the lever 96 is moved away fromengagement with the pin inember. Hence, when the lever 96v returns in neutral position after engagement with the pin member 100, its neutral position will not vbe obstructed by engagement with the pin 102, which in position c is so low as not to operate the lever. Asl-terl the series of operations for which the work was initially positioned by the gage 76 have been performed. the operator removes his foot from the treadle as before described and the rack bar 108 is carried upwardly, lthus movingthe pin 118 from its lowermost to i-ts uppermost position, whereby the pin member 102 is carried from position c to position a but continued upward movement of the rack bar 108 finally carries it into Contact with the extension 144 on the slide 122, thus: carrying the slide and the bar 104 upwardly until the pin member 102 comes to rest with the latter in position d. lin this position of the pin member-'the lever 96 is actuated just as the machine comes to rest to move the gage 78 into operative position.

ln the illustrative construction means is provided for assisting the die in feeding the work over the table, the said means comprising a. block 146 having a lower friction surface to engage the sheet material to assist in feeding the sheet as the die and the block swing toward the left in Figure 1. Since th-e die and the blocks 146 are turning about the pivot 28, the said block must be mounted yieldingly and this is accomplished in the construction shown by pivoting the block to a rod 148 which is slidingly received in an extension or bracket 150 on the collar 22, a spring 152 being provided for projecting the rod 148 yieldingly in a downward direct-ion.

ln order that the sheet material may not be displaced to the right `as the die swings to position preparatory to a cutting operation there is provided a presser foot 154 arranged to be operated from the bell-crank lever 156, a spring 158 being introduced between t-he presser foot and the bell-crank so that the former is'pressed down yieldinglyl on the work. Upon inspection of Fig. 1 it will be seen that the` bell-crank 156 is operated from the same toggle which operates the die, connection being made by a presser toot can be readily raised through the handle 162 which operates a toggle 164 operably connected to the presser foot.

.cans is preferably provided tor cutting away the scrap so that a straight edge will be provided on the sheet material. thus 'treshrutting operations by positioning the straight edge thus termed against a side gage indicated at 166. in the construction,

shown. the scrap cutting means comprises a knife 168 at the lovver end of a plunger TUT() which is operated by a bell-crank 172, he latter carrying a roll 174 in contact with a tace cani on the cam member 46. A spring 17 6 serves to hold the cam roll 174 in contact with the cam member 46. The blade or cutter 168 is long enough to cut the scrap between blanks oi the various sizes for which any particular machine is designed to operate. The die is preferably provided with means for ejecting the blank 'iii-oni the die such as a block backed by spring means which permits the block torecede into the die during the cutting 'of a blank. Such a construction of a blank ejectmeans is old and Well-known as shown7 iter example, in the patent to 1i/lhittlesey et al. No. 426.577. granted April 29, 18907 iter a rubber cutting machine. rlfhus the blank is left in the plane of the sheet and moved along therewith until it drops through the opening 178 in the table 6.

The bracket 80, as before stated, isv mounted adjustably on the collar 22, so that the gages 76 and 'T3 carried bythe bracket may ee positioned properly with respect to each different size oi die 2O that may he used in the machine. adjustment ot' the bracket being accomplished through proper manipulation oiz the adpisting member 81. Corresponding adjustments (not shown) are provided in the mountinofor the lever 82 on the bracket and iii the attachment ot the link 99 with said lever 82. It will be understood that the amount ot adjustment oft the gages is not lgreat and corresponds approximately to one-halt the difference in the transverse dimensions of the dies which are7 at any given time, interchanged on the machine. y

In operation With the machine to cut blanks from sheet material the sheet is introduced by 'positioning its straight edge against the gage 166 and then moving it in e ifroin displaceir ,king it possible to locate thev sheet torL the-feeding direction until itsfleading edgev under the die and in'engagement with one et the tivo gages 7 6 and 78 one of which is 4 in eperative position `Whenthe machine yis at rest.' its before sta-ted the presser toot is raised so that it does not obstruct introf duction et the Work and is released as soon beneath it. TWith the Work in position the operator steps on the treadle to. start the machine whereupon the die enters the Work andy moves to the lett (Fig. 1).to feedvthe Work, the moving with. the die and being retracted from gaging position as the die .reachesv its furthest point to ther extreme le-ft. Thus the gage Will not contact `with the scrap on the return swing of the die and will remain out et position until the machine is ence more brought torest when theother gage will be projected into il i series ot blanks beginning 4at a differV- ent distance from the leading edge oi' the. sheet.

the sheet material has been introduced` irative position to gage the -vvork torta ljln a machine ot the class described, a

Work support, adie for cutting` blanks from sheet material positioned on the support, and means for reciprocating the dieto torce ittliro-ugh thel Work and `for moving itjto feed the work constructed and arranged to cut blanksl from the sheetvmaterial during feeding movement ot the latter.

2. In a machine of the class described,` ay

Work support7 a die ior cutting blanks `from sheet material positioned Von the support means for reciprocating thedie to cause yit i to penetrate the sheet material, meansorfeeding the work, and means `for moving the die at the rate of feeding movement ot` the Work, the said means beings() related to each other that the die cuts progressively through the material and completes the cutting operationdiiring the feeding movement or the Work.

5. ln a machine oit the class described7 a work support7 a die `tor. cutting sheet mate# 'rialpositioned on the Work support, means` and is returned `to, initial position pi'elii'nif nary to the second cutting operation. v

4. In a machine of the class described, a`

Work support comprising a cylinder mountved so that a portion of its cylindrical sur-Y face serves as a `Work support during` cut-.

for forcing the die through the Work7 means-A ting operations, a die reciprocable towards and froml the Work support 'for cutting blanks from sheet material positionedwon the Work support, and means oroperating iso theL vdiejto cause co-operation between the die' and the cylinder to out blanks from the sheet material and simultaneously feed the Work.'

5. Ina machine of the class described, a

Work supportv `comprising a cylinder having a'cylindrical surface disposed to furnish a supporting surface for the Work, a die reciprocable towards and from the cylinder 7; In a machine of the class described, av

die for cutting blanks from sheet material,

4 a cylinder having a cylindrical surface for coi-operating with the die in dieing out the blanks, Vand means for reciprocating the die toward andA from said cylinder during blank cutting operations.

8. In a machine of the class described, a die for cutting blanks from sheet material, a cylinder for supporting the sheet material against the thrust of the die, and means for reciprocating the die toward and from the cylinder and for oscillating it in timed relation to the rotation of the cylinder. v

9. Inl a machine of the class described, a die for cutting blanks from sheet material, a cylinder having a cylindrical surface for supporting the sheet material against the thrust of the die, means for reciprocating the die toward andy from the cylinder to cut the sheet material, means for oscillating the dievto feed the sheet material simultaneously with the cutting thereof, the construction and arrangement being such that the cylinder rotates with the sheet material as the latter is fed by the die, and additional means for rotating the cylinder in the direction of feed of the material.

\ l0. In a machiney of the class described, a `die for cutting blanks from sheet material, a cylinder having a curved surface for supporting the sheet material against the thrust of the die, means for reciprocating the dic toward and from thecylinder in cutting` op` erations, and means for oscillating` the die and rotating the cylinder so as tov feed the sheet material during the cutting of blanks therefrom.

ll. In a machine of the class described, a die for cutting blanks from sheet material, a cylinder having a curved surface for supporting the Work and for taking the thrust of the die during cutting operations, means for reciprocating the die toward and from inattesi material, means for oscillating the die so asto cut the sheet material While it is being fed, and means for rotating the cylinder to feed vthe sheet material.

l2. In a machine of the class described, a die for cutting blanks from sheet material, a cylinder having a curved surface for supporting the work against the thrustv ofthe die during cutting operations, means for reciprocating' the die toward and from the cylinder to cut the material, means for yieldingly driving a cylinder in the direction of feed, and means for moving the die tocooperate with the cylinder in feeding the sheet material during the cutting of each individual blank.

i3. In a machine of the class described, a Work support, a die for cutting sheet mate'- rial, a gage for positioning the material on` Vthe Work support, means for moving the die to feed the Work, and means controlled by the move-ment of the die for moving the gage to operative position.

lei. In a machine of the class described, a Work support, a die for cutting sheet mate rial, a gage for positioning the material on the Work support, means for moving the die to feed the Work, and means controlled by the movement of the die for moving the gage into and out of operative position.

l5. In a machine of the class described, a Work support, a die for cutting' sheet material, gages for positioning lthe Work alter nately at certain predetermined distances With respect tothe die, means `for moving the die to feed the Work, and means controlled by the movement of the die for alternatcly moving the gages into and out of operative position. v

16. In a machine o-f the class described, a

Work support, a die for cutting` sheet material on the Work support, means for oscillating the die to feed the sheet material, a gage connected to the die t0 move therewith during oscillation of the die, means for moving the gage'to operative position so as to locate the Work With respect 'to the die for the first cutting operation, and means for thereafter withdrawing the gage so that it Will not interfere with the feeding of the Work.V y

l?. In a machine of the class described, a Work support, a die for cutting sheet'inaterial located on the Work support, means for moving' the die to feed the Work, gages connected to the die to move therewith during its 'Work feeding movements, and means foi` moving the gages alternately into operative position for positioning the Work With rcspect to the die.

18. In ama-chine of the class described, a Work support, a die for cutting sheet material supported on the Work support, means for moving the die to feed the sheet material,

yll() gages mounted to move with the die in its Work 'feeding movements, means nately moving the gages to operative position for the purpose ot locating the leading end oit' the Work at predetermined distances with respect to the die, and means for moving the operative gage to inoperative position and at the same time retaining the other gage in inoperative position so that the work is tree to be ted during a plurality oiI cutting operations.

i9. ln a machine of the class described, a u'ork support, a die tor cutting sheet material7 a gage mounted to move with the die tor positioning the material on the Work sup-u port, means for moving the die to 'feed the work, and means tor automatically moving the gage to operativ position.

20. ln a machine oit the class described i Work support, a die for cutting sheet mate rial, a gage mounted to move with the die tor positioning the material on tue Work support, means tor moving the die to feed the ivork, and means for automatically moving the gage chine comes to rest so that the material mayr` be positioned properly with respect to the dier-at the beginning ot fresh cutting operations.

2l. ln a machine o1 the class described, a work support, a die tor cutting sheet material, mounted tov move with the die for positioning` the work alterrately at certain predetermined` dista .ces ith respect to the die.J means for moving the die to nd the Work, and automatic means for alternately moving the gages into and out oi? operative position as the machine comes to rest so that the material may be positional` alternately at certain predetermined distances with respect to the cutting edge of the die at the beginning oit fresh cutting operations.

22. ln a machine ot the oies described, a uml' support, die 'tor cutting sheet maw al on the Work support, means ior moving the die to i .teed the Work, a device mounted to move with the die in its Work feeding movements to assist'in 'eedingthc Work, a presser foot operative to hold the ivork during return movement oit die. means tor reciprocating the die toward and from the Work to cut blankstheretrom comprising a toggle. and means connecting the uresser 'foot with the toggle for ogierating the 'former in 'ti med relation With the operaion of the die;

23. a machine ot the class described, a ivorlr support, a die tor cutting blanks from sheet material positioned on the support, means for reciprocating the die to cause it to penetrate the sheet material, and means :tor mo the die at the rate or 'feeding movement oi theivork, the said means being so related to each other that one side portion ot the cutting edge of the die enters the tor alter-v into operative position as the maturning to initial tions of the die enter the material progressively nfrom one side portion ot the cutting y edge to the other side portion andiinally the side portion opposite the irst mentioned side portion enters the material and completes the cutting of the blank. i,

24. ln a machine ot the character i described, a support or the Work, a die, a toggle tor operating the die to cut blanks i'romthe Work, means for moving the die to feed the Work, presser Yfoot, and connections to the toggle for opera. the presser toot in timed relation With eeding movements `oi the die to hold the Work While the die is return ing to initial position preliminary to each blank cutting operation.

2f. ln a machine ot the character described, a table tor supporting sheet material, adie, means iforl reciprocating the die to cut blanks from sheet material and to feed the sheet materiah a presser toot for holding the sheet material against. displacement While the die is returning to initial l from the material, a presser li`oot,'meani-i 'for automatically operating the presser toot to hold the shet material while the die is rethe presser foot to release the sheet materiai While the work is controlled means ior moving the presser position and for causing being ted, and manually'` i'ioot to inoperative position and holding it there. ivhile the Work being introduced into the machine.

27. ln a machine of the character de-4 scribed, .a support 'for sheet material, a die for cutting blanks 'from the. material, a gage mounted to move with the die as the latter moves with the Work in the: direction ot feed, means ,tor autornaticallyv positioning the gave and tor automatically withdrawing it from operative position comprising a cam member, means tor positioning the kcam member confiprising slide and a rack bar having lost motion connections with each other, and a trcadle 'for' controlling said i rack bar. l

28. 'ln a machine ot the character vdescribed, a support for sheet material, a die 'for cutting blanks trom sheet material, means tor operating the die tocut the blanks and to move the die in the direction ot vifeed ot the Work, a gage mounted to move Withthe die to position the Work preliminary to a series o' cutting operations, star ting means for the machine. comprising a treadle, and means controlled :trom the treadle and automatically operative to positionthe gage at through the Work and for moving it along in v the end of said series of cutting operations s0 that the sheet material may be correctly positioned for the succeeding series of cutting operations.

ln a machine of the class described, a. ivorlr support, a die for cutting sheet material located on the Worlr support, means for moving the die to feed the work, gages connected to the die to move therewith during its Worlr feeding movements, and means for moving the gages automatically one at a, time into operative position for positioning 'the Work with respect to the die.

30. ln machine of the class described, a Werl-r support, a die for cutting sheet material positioned on the Work su portl` means for supporting the die for oscillation into and out of the plane of the Work and means for forcing the die into the Y-.vorlr and simultaneously moving the die along with the Work to feed the a distance corresponding to one dimension of the blanks being cut from the material, the die being'sub-A sequently returned to initial position preliminary to a second cutting operation.

3l. ln a machine of the class described, a Work support, a. die for cuttingsheet material in co-operation With the Work support, the said die being supported to turn about a pivot spaced from the Work support, and means for simultaneously forcing the die a given direction to feed the Work after which the die is returned toI initial position preliminary to a second cutting operation.

32. ln a machine of the class described, a

Work support having a slot therein, a cylinder mounted below` the Work support and having a portion of its cylindrical surface positioned in the slot in the Work support so as to furnish part of the support for the Work, and means for adjusting the cylinder With respect to the plane of the upper surface of the Work support.

' 33. vln a machine of the class described, a Work supporting table having a slot eX- vtending transversely thereof, a cylinder having a portion of its cylindrical surface positioned in the slot, a shaft or axle for the cylinder, and bearings .adjustable in the frame the machine for receiving the ends of the shaft or aXle,'the arrangement being such that the cylinder may be adjusted to locate a portion of its cylindrical surface in proper position with respect to the plane of the upper surface. of the Work supporting table.

34;. ln amachine. of the class described, a Work support having a slot therein, and a cylinder mounted below the Work support land having a portion of its cylindrical surface. positioned in the slot in the Work supraadsel port to serve a cutt ions, said c i,

"tV vtov l. ferent portions of position to talre the thrust of ing cutting operations.

ln a machine of the class described, cylinder having cylindrical surfacedisposed 'to furnish sujuooA i i i sheet material during cuttn 5 y cutter reciproc e toward and from the cj infler for cutting` the sheet material, means for causing co-operationv between the cutter and the cylincler feed the ivorlr and simultaneously with the feeding movement to out blanks therefrom.

3G. ln a machine of the class described, a cylinder mounted to rotate about a herr/LonHV tal anis, a cutter" for cutting bla-nhs from sheet material passing over the cylinder, and means for moving the cutter toward the cyl# inder and simultaneously therewith to oscillate the rcutter so that the cutter moves with the sheet material in the feeding direction during the operation of cuttingblanks therefrom. c

37. ln a machine of the class described, a cutter for cutting blanks from sheet material,

r block during cut- 1 being udjustvzindrical surface in the cutter duroperation s u a cylinder having a cylindrical surface for' co-operating With the cutter during cutting operations, means for rotating the cylinder,

and'means for reciproeating` the cutter to` tion to feed the sheet material through the y plane of cutting operations, and means for reciprocatinev der during rotative movement of the latter whereby blanks are out simultaneously with the feeding movement of the sheet material.

39. ln a machine of the class described, a cutter, a cylinder having a cylindrical surface for supporting sheet materia-l against the thrust of the cutter, means for oscillat` ing the cutter to feed the sheet material simultaneously with. the cutting thereof, the construction and arrangement being such that the cylinder rotates with the sheet material asthe latter is fed by the cutter, and addi-V tional means for rotating the cylinder in the direction of feed of the material.

ln testimony whereof lf have. signed my name to this specification.

IRA C. BUCKMNSTER.

successively dife the cutter toward the cylin- 

